Everton have a reported interest in signing Marcus Rashford in the new year, but the arguments against his arrival far outweigh those for it.

Over the weekend, reports emerged that suggested Everton are in talks over signing Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, as his second chance already seems to have capitulated with an exit in 2027 now expected.

Everton would love Rashford, but that is more the idea of who Rashford is and the player he can be. But outside his time with Barcelona, Rashford hasn’t been that player for the best part of five years.

This highlights the harsh reality of why Everton can’t be signing the United number nine.

Everton won’t pay Marcus Rashford the wage he wants

The primary reason that Marcus Rashford remains in a United shirt is due to the wages he is on and would, in all likelihood, demand at his next club. Rashford earns an unsustainable and unrealistic £300,000-per-week with a £90,000 weekly bonus also written into his contract for unspecified reasons.

Everton will never pay Rashford this wage, and even taking up 50 per cent of his payslip in the event of a loan would see him as Everton’s top earner, with this split likely more generous than United would agree to.

Everton are currently up for sale and taking on a massive financial liability, whether on loan or permanent, which won’t make the club any more appealing to buyers and would also be a burden that the Friedkins are unlikely to want to take on as they plot their departure.

But what makes the idea even more problematic is that this massive wage could be going to a player who isn’t even guaranteed a start.

Rashford isn’t a guaranteed starter for all the noise he would bring

Moyes will have seen a very young Marcus Rashford at United, and the prospect of linking up with him would likely be enticing for the Everton boss. But at nearly 29 years of age, he is far from the exciting winger that we all view him through the lens of being.

The level of player he is now would mean he isn’t a guaranteed starter with Jack Grealish, Tyrique George, and Tyler Dibling competition for Rashford.

Given Everton already pays £150,000-per-week for Grealish on loan, who is arguably better right now, it wouldn’t make sense to pay more for depth in that position.

Some may suggest Rashford can back up Thierno Barry as well, but by his own admission, striker isn’t where his strengths are best used, and he has struggled in the role over the years for United.

He doesn’t think like a striker and is potentially even worse in front of goal than Barry has been this season.

Alongside this, Rashford has injuries creeping into his game, which could leave Everton paying for him to effectively be on the injury list with a hip problem now recurring.

It looked like the old Rashford was back after his impressive season for Barcelona, but a few weeks at United showed that this was more due to the motivation he had to make that move permanent, and when it didn’t happen, as Barcelona went for Anthony Gordon instead, Rashford has regressed.

He hasn’t scored or assisted for United this season and has almost seemed to have lost all interest, which Moyes might struggle to get him out of or inspire the forward to put in the yards or get back to his best.

It would be a signing that has a 10% chance of going well, but then there is a 90% chance it goes poorly. A risk Everton doesn’t need to take when there are other positions needed.